Monthly Archives: May 2009

Silver Surfers’ Day tomorrow at the BBC in Hull

Posted on May 14, 2009 by | Leave a comment

Following on from an earlier blog post about Silver Surfers’ Day I am pleased to report that the BBC is staging a two hour session tomorrow for people to learn how to use its iPlayer and use social networking sites. Find out more about the day from Digital Unite. You can also submit a joke for Silver Surfers’ Day 2009!

Public: Yes
Name of event: BBC USE IT DAY
Details: Training to use i-player, e-bay, socail networking groups and you tube.
Address: BBC Yorkshire and Lincolnshire Queens Court Queens Gardens Hull HU5 3JU.
Postcode: HU5 3JU
Date: 15/05/2009
Time: 13.00 – 15.00
Any other info: Limited places – to book call 01482 323232
Cost: Free
Booking req: Yes
Disabled access: Yes
Contact name (if any): BBC USE IT DAY
Contact tel no.: 01482 323232
www.bbc.co.uk/humberside
Source: Digital Unite as highlighted

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Posted in Hull, ICT

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Holderness Lions – part of the world’s largest good-service club

Posted on May 14, 2009 by | 1 Comment

The Holderness Lions are hosting a Diabetes Screening session on Saturday 30th May from 10am – 2pm at the Alexandra Hall in Hedon. The event is billed as an opportunity to be screened for diabetes and also to meet the Lions.

The event above caught my eye in the Hull Daily Mail community announcements and prompted the question: Who/what are the Holderness Lions? A quick search on the internet provided the following information:

The Holderness Lions are a local member club of the Lions Club International which describes itself as an “international network of volunteers and friends”.

To empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding through Lions clubs. Lions Mission Statement.

The first Lions were originally formed in the United States in 1917. The name “Lions” was chosen because the characteristics of that animal summed up the ideals of the organisation: strength, courage, fidelity and vital action. The words Liberty, Intelligence, Our Nation’s Safety may have originally been created for the acronym LIONS. However the organisation prides itself on working on a global basis and addressing challenges beyond national borders.

The Lions conduct a range of charitable and public service works across the planet. They support sight programmes through eye-care schemes and recycling glasses. They organise other health programmes including efforts to control and prevent diabetes. They organise specific youth, community and environmental work. They are also active in international aid efforts to relieve the effects of natural disasters including the recent earthquakes in Italy and the bush-fires in Australia.

Until yesterday I’d never really heard of the Lions – although was aware the group existed but assumed it was a sports social club! Yet through the power of the internet I have discovered a whole new international movement committed to the public good!

Related Information: Lions on Wikipedia

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Posted in East Yorkshire UK, Hedon, UK/International

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Crime Figures for Hedon for April 2009

Posted on May 13, 2009 by | Leave a comment

LOCAL CRIME MAPPING

Humberside Police have published the crime figures for April for the South West Holderness Ward area.

Significantly, the average number of crimes in the area had increased from 50.3 to 61.3 (21.9%) (compared to the same three month period last year). However, crimes of Burglary, Violence and Anti-Social behaviour all decreased.

The figures for the ward for the last 12 months period can be downloaded here as a Microsoft Excel file at:

http://maps.humberside.police.uk/csv/south-west-holderness-ward/

Source: SW Holderness statistics by Humberside Police.

Other related information: Hedon Police Forum.

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Posted in Hedon

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Hedon Town Council Budget

Posted on May 12, 2009 by | Leave a comment

The current Hedon Newsletter (Issue 9) outlines the budget recently adopted by Hedon Town Council.

The article is reproduced here:

Having regard for the economic climate and other issues, Hedon Town Council have endeavoured to keep the increase in the precept (the amount paid by Hedon council tax payers) to a minimum for the financial year 2009/2010. The actual percentage increase on the precept was tiny, only 0.051%. In effect based on the band “D” rate (the rate used to calculate household contributions in Hedon) this equates to an actual decrease in individual contributions.

The estimates allow for funds to be made available for contingencies and projects, for example aboricultural work, and maintenance of the cemetery and Church clock. (£50,471.00 reserves are not included in figures shown below):

The Budget:-

INCOME

Finance                             135,179

Allotments                        100

Town Hall Lettings            500

Cemetery                           8,000

Town Centre                       6,500

General Works                   500

Land                                  200

EXPENDITURE

Finance                              19,400

Ceremonial                          6,050

Administration                  52,950

Town Hall                            45,750

Church Clock                       500

Cemetery/Churchyard      5,150

Town Centre                        6,500

General Works                    65,100

Planning                              50

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Posted in Hedon

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MPs Expenses Scandal – Need to Reinvigorate Grassroots Politics

Posted on May 12, 2009 by | Leave a comment
Something whiffs?

Something whiffs?

The current scandal over expenses claimed by nearly all UK Members of  Parliament threatens to tar all politicians with the same brush. It will be difficult to dislodge the public perception of MPs en-masse as exploiters of parliamentary privileges and allowances in order to boost their own lifestyles.

The idea of Parliament being an exclusive ‘club’ of the privileged and the rich is of course nothing new and predates the current MPs expenses arrangements. Indeed the 1947 film Fame is the Spur told the story of a young socialist firebrand (played by Michael Redgrave) who gets elected to Parliament and eventually gets absorbed into the very system of privilege that he set out to change. Redgrave’s character ends up rich and privileged but looses his roots and ideals in the process.

The expenses scandal serves to boost the burning cynicism that many people hold about politicians and politics in general. And I use the word cynicism specifically; I feel that people do care about the political issues of the day and are not apathetic, but rather cynical that traditional politics can actually make any difference.

Grassroots politicians need to re-convince local people that they are inspired by a wish to serve their communities and make a real difference in society, rather than seeking professional political careers and purely personal satisfaction. Integrity needs to be rebuilt at the grassroots with local politicians re-engaging with people on the doorstep, in the shopping centres, churches and the pubs – wherever people meet. They need to rebuild confidence that public debate on the issues of the day are important and will lead to action on the results of those discussions.

I am optimistic about this positive change. Communities are already full of local community activists and existing local politicians who do a fantastic job in representing their constituents. They do so because they care about the people and issues they advocate for. They need to reclaim their political parties and cleanse the political system of the stench and fallout from the present crisis.

Also posted on Your Say – Your Mail.

Related information:

UK Parliament – MP’s Allowances

Daily Telegraph

Hull Daily Mail

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Posted in Debate, UK/International

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What do you think of East Riding Council newspaper?

Posted on May 11, 2009 by | 1 Comment

I like the East Riding News!

ERNews_SnipThe Council’s own publication gives me information that I can’t easily find in other newspapers. It tells me how my council tax is being spent and keeps me in touch about local policies that might affect me. It’s quite an enjoyable read; it’s delivered to my door and its free – always a bonus for a skint news hound like me!

I am an advocate for local authorities using all types of media for communicating with residents; including websites, and other online social media; Twitter, Facebook, etc – however the printed form is still essential for that vast swathe of the local population who do not yet have or benefit from an internet connection. Although I do feel that East Riding News should also be published as an online version which would reach a much larger interested readership!

The publication has been recognised by The Good Communications Awards 2008 winning the Journalism Award and being commended in the Council Publication of The Year Award.

So I feel quite justified in holding my positive opinion on the East Riding News. However, it is my opinion. And there are many contrary or different points of view that have previously been expressed in the local media:

  • It’s not read – people are not interested in local government so bin-it immediately or line the budgie cage with it.
  • It’s a public relations magazine for the ruling political party on the Council.
  • It pulls vital advertising revenue away from other local newspapers who are local employers struggling to survive in recession.
  • It’s a waste of money!

Whilst not necessarily subscribing to these views they do merit discussion!?

What do you think?

Source: Twitter Conversation #councilpapers

Other related material: Should councils publish newspapers?

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Posted in Debate, East Yorkshire UK, Hedon

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Searching The Hedon Blog

Posted on May 11, 2009 by | Leave a comment

Searching The Hedon Blog for items that interest you is easy.

Topics CloudSearch: You can enter your search term in the box at the top of the right-hand side-bar. For example, type the word JigZone then click Search (or press Enter/Return) and a list of blog posts containing that term wil be listed with a summary of each.

Categories: Halfway down the left-hand side-bar is the Categories tab. Click the arrow to drop down a menu of the general subject headings of each blog post. The number of entries in each category is also shown. Click ICT for example and every blog post about Information and/or Communication Technology will be displayed in date order with a summary of each.

Topics Cloud: Underneath Categories on the left-hand side-bar is the Topics Cloud. Each Blog Post – including this one – has categories listed at the bottom and also a number of ‘tags’. Tags are used to help identify each blog-post and its subject matter. Tags are also the things that search engines (Google, Yahoo, etc) look for to discover items related to a particular search request.

The Topics Cloud lists the most popular tags in The Hedon Blog. The bigger the word, then the more often that tag has been used. Simply click on a word to see each blog-post with that particular tag.

Any Problems? If you can’t find what you are looking for on the blog then drop me a comment below.

Enjoy searching The Hedon Blog!

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Posted in ICT

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Insight from Hedon Mayor

Posted on May 10, 2009 by | Leave a comment
Hedon Mayor Cllr Mike Bryan

Hedon Mayor 2008/09 Cllr Mike Bryan

Issue 9 of the Hedon Newsletter is now available to collect from local shops, pubs and public buildings.

The edition includes an illuminating personal recollection from Councillor Mike Bryan on his experience as Hedon Mayor. The article shows his efforts in both his civic role and in his personal capacity as Mayor to promote the town and local good causes.

I think that the article does a service in indicating what the role involves but also the context of that role in an ever changing world. In this regard it should be considered an historical document. Imagine if we had a similar report from the first Mayor of Hedon and subsequent incumbants!? What an historical record and commentary that would have provided!

Councillor Bryan was the town’s 661st Mayor -  Councillor Ann Suggit was elected as the 662nd in March 2009.

Also featured in the current 30 page Hedon Newsletter is a breakdown of the Hedon Town Council’s budget for 2009/10; information on ‘What’s on…’ at Alexandra Hall; a profile of Hedon Karate Club and a piece about The Hedon Blog – many thanks to the Editor!

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Posted in Hedon, History

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